Ellis secures pair of quality Savabeel fillies

Ardent Savabeel admirer David Ellis added another brace of fillies by the champion sire to his collection on the second day of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Wednesday afternoon.

The Te Akau boss outlaid A$775,000 to purchase the well-related pair out of Waikato Stud’s consignment.

Ellis wasn’t to be denied in his pursuit of Lot 327 and outlasted his rivals with his final bid of A$400,000 to secure the daughter of the O’Reilly mare Urban.

A half-sister to the G3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes winner Residential, Urban’s three foals to race have all been successful and includes the progressive Savabeel four-year-old Poison Chalice who has won four of his eight starts.

The tangerine team take another outstanding Savabeel filly home from @mmsnippets GC – we know this duo works 🙌 Selling for $400k, Lot 327 is a classy filly out of the O’Reilly mare, Urban, from the family of stakes winners Metropolitan and Residential. We’re stoked that she will… pic.twitter.com/GT63x5K3kL

— Waikato Stud (@WaikatoStud) January 10, 2024

Ellis had earlier gone to A$375,000 for Lot 257, a half-sister to the G2 Emancipation Stakes winner Promise Of Success with their dam the Irish-bred Street Cry mare Summer School.

There is also substantial residual value in the daughter of Savabeel as her third dam is a half-sister to the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Urban Sea, who produced multiple top-flight winner and sire sensation Galileo.

His half-brother Sea The Stars also claimed six Group 1 titles, including an edition of the Arc, before retiring to stud.

Starting Day 2 @mmsnippets GC with a bang 💥 Lot 257, a beautiful Savabeel filly out of Summer School (IRE) sells to David Ellis of @TeAkauRacing for $375k 🙌🏻 She’s a half-sister to G2 winner Promise Of Success and we can’t wait to see her race for the tangerine team – good luck! pic.twitter.com/zommQE9mdc

— Waikato Stud (@WaikatoStud) January 10, 2024

The farm’s son of Super Seth, Lot 300, was a popular colt and he sold for A$360,000 with Chris Waller Racing, Mulcaster Bloodstock and Sophie Baker having the final say.

He is out of the O’Reilly mare Thy who was successful in the Listed Aspiration Handicap and finished third in the G1 Australian Oaks.

She is from the famed Dennis Brothers family and is a three-quarter sister to the former champion three-year-old and dual Group 1 winner The Jewel.

SUPER result for Super Seth 🙌 Lot 300, our standout colt out of Thy (O’Reilly) goes for $360k @mmsnippets GC. His G1-placed dam won at stakes level and is a three-quarter sister to NZ Champion 3YO The Jewel whilst G1 winner The Chosen One also features on his page 🌟 Congrats… pic.twitter.com/Mh9uuROsN9

— Waikato Stud (@WaikatoStud) January 10, 2024